There are many causes of lower back pain, including acute lumbar sprain, chronic lumbar muscle strain, lumbar disc herniation, degenerative spine disease, and lumbar transverse process syndrome. The main treatment for lower back pain is physical therapy. Below, we will introduce the massage techniques for lower back pain.
Massage Techniques for Acute Lumbar Sprain
Treatment principles: Relax tendons, promote blood circulation, and relieve pain.
Acupoints and locations: Local plus Weizhong, Chengshan, Yanglingquan, etc.
Massage techniques:
1. The patient lies prone and the masseur kneads Weizhong, Chengshan, Yanglingquan, etc.
2. Apply rubbing or four-finger pushing on the affected side's lumbar muscles. Note that due to acute injury, the stimulation should not be too strong or last too long. The main purpose is to relax the tense and spasmodic muscles. If the patient experiences severe pain and the relaxation effect of the massage is not good, acupuncture can be used to help relax the muscles.
3. Apply gentle tapping on the injured area, without using excessive force or prolonging the time.
4. Perform lateral bending on the lumbar region.
5. Perform friction on the lumbar region.
Massage Techniques for Chronic Lumbar Muscle Strain
Treatment principles: Relax tendons, promote blood circulation, and warm tendons.
Acupoints and locations: Weizhong, Yanglingquan, Kunlun, Taixi, Mingmen, Dachangshu.
Massage techniques:
1. The patient lies prone, and deep kneading or four-finger pushing is applied to the bladder meridian on both sides of the lumbar region for treatment.
2. Knead Weizhong, Yanglingquan, Kunlun, Taixi, Mingmen, Dachangshu.
3. Perform direct friction on the bladder meridian on both sides of the lumbar region, cross friction on the Du meridian, and horizontal friction on the lumbosacral region.
4. Use patting or striking techniques along the back to the sacral area.
Massage Techniques for Degenerative Spine Disease
Treatment principles: Promote qi circulation, activate blood circulation, and relax tendons.
Acupoints and locations: Chengshan, Yinlingquan, Weizhong, Shenshu, Dachangshu, Mingmen, Yangguan, Kunlun, Taixi, etc.
Massage techniques:
1. The patient lies prone, and Weizhong, Chengshan, Yinlingquan, Kunlun, Taixi, etc., are kneaded.
2. Apply kneading on both sides of the lumbar region and buttocks.
3. Knead Mingmen, lumbar Yangguan, Shenshu, Dachangshu.
4. Use tapping on potential tender points.
5. Use tapping for patients with sciatic nerve compression symptoms.
6. Perform lumbar traction. Generally, a slant board is used. If the symptoms of sciatic nerve compression are not significantly improved after slant traction, positional rotation traction or posterior traction extension can be used.
7. Use friction along the Du meridian and both sides of the bladder meridian, and perform horizontal friction on the lumbosacral region.
8. Use tapping on the lumbosacral region.
Massage Techniques for Lumbar Transverse Process Syndrome
Treatment principles: Relax tendons, promote blood circulation, reduce swelling, and relieve pain.
Acupoints and locations: Shenshu, Qihai, Dachangshu, Guanyuan, Zhibian, Huanbiao, Chengfu, Yanglingquan, Weizhong, Chengshan, Kunlun, lumbar region, buttocks.
Massage techniques:
1. The patient lies prone, and the masseur stands on one side, using kneading or four-finger pushing on the sacral muscles on both sides of the lumbar region to relax the muscles on both sides of the lumbar region.
2. Apply tapping to the transverse process of the 3rd lumbar vertebra.
3. Use acupressure or one-finger Zen technique to massage Shenshu, Qihai, Dachangshu, Zhibian, Huanbiao, Chengfu, Weizhong, Chengshan, Kunlun, Yanglingquan, for about 1 minute per acupoint.
4. The patient lies on the side, with the affected side on top. The masseur stands facing the patient, pressing on the front of the shoulder with one hand, and pressing or using the elbow on the upper back of the buttocks with the other hand, applying force simultaneously to perform lateral bending on the lumbar region.
5. Finally, use kneading or acupressure on the lumbar and buttocks on the affected side, as well as the posterior side of the thigh and the outer side of the calf.
Massage Techniques for Lumbar Disc Herniation
Treatment principles: Relax tendons, promote blood circulation, realign tendons, activate meridians, and relieve pain.
Acupoints and locations: Shenshu, lumbar Yangguan, Dachangshu, Huanbiao, Weizhong, Yanglingquan, Chengshan, Xuanzhong, Kunlun, lumbar and sacral regions, buttocks, lower limbs.
Massage techniques:
1. The patient lies prone, and the masseur uses kneading or rubbing techniques on the lumbar and buttocks, as well as the affected side's lower limbs, repeatedly 3-5 times. This helps relax the muscles and relieve muscle spasms.
2. The masseur uses both thumbs to press and knead Shenshu, lumbar Yangguan, Dachangshu, Huanbiao, Weizhong, Yanglingquan, Chengshan, Xuanzhong, Kunlun, Ashi points, about half a minute per acupoint.
3. The masseur uses the palm of the left hand to press on the back of the right hand, gradually increasing the pressure from light to heavy, then relaxing, and repeating several times.
5. The patient lies on the side, with the affected side on top. The masseur stands facing the patient, pressing on the front of the shoulder with one hand, and pressing or using the elbow on the upper back of the buttocks with the other hand, applying force simultaneously to perform lateral bending on the lumbar region.
5. Finally, the masseur uses kneading or acupressure techniques on the lumbar and buttocks on the affected side, as well as the posterior side of the thigh and the outer side of the calf.
